Improvement in steering-gears for vessels



D. SCATTERGOUD.

Steering-Gear for Vessels.

Patened June V06/dar ma fe @wwf 7 rrnn STATES PATENT errlon.

DAVID SGATTERGOOD, OF BEVERLY, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEERINGGEARS FOR VESSELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,890, dated June 1, 1875; application tiled December 12, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, DAVID SoATTERGooD, of Beverly, in the county of Burlington, in the State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful improvement in steering apparatus for sailing and other vessels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawing and letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in so constructing a segment of beveled wheel, with slotted apertures, that it may be readily applied and securely fastened to rudder-posts of different diameters, and when fastened be operated by a beveled pinion and windlass, so that the motion of the rudder is the same relatively to the motion of the steering-wheel or windlass as it is to a helm or tiller.

Figure l shows a plan of this invention; Fig. 2 a section, and Fig. 3 a front elevation, of the beveled segment, and Fig. 4 a plan of the strap-bolt for fastening the segment to the rudder-post.

The same letters of reference apply to the same parts in the several figures.

The drawing shows the invention on a scale of three inches per foot.

A represents a segment of a beveled-toothed wheel of less than a halfcircle. The arms B B', which form a chord to the arc, are slotted at C and C', and a central hole, E, is formed in it with a pocket, in which a nut may be inserted. A strap-bolt, F, made fiat and exible, so that it may be bent cold to make it conform to the shape and size of 'the head of the rudder-post G, has the ends passed through the slots G and C', and is there secured by nuts. The side of the rudderposts, to which the segment is applied, is

dressed ott' fiat so that the center of the arc of teeth coincides. With the center of motion of the rudder-post Gr. When it is inconvenient to use the strap-bolt F a single bolt, H, may be introduced through the rudderpost G and secured in the nut J in the pocket E.

A pinion, K, gearing into the segment A and mounted on a shaft, L, turning in bearings M and M and operated and controlled by` a windlass or steering-wheel, N, gears into the segment, so that the motion of the upper handles of the wheel is the same as the motion of a tiller Would move if applied to the rudderpost.

The advantages of this invention are, that from its construction l am able at a low cost to make a steering mechanism that is readily applicable and adjustable to any sizes of rudder-posts within a considerable range of sizes, and securely and properly fixed thereto by` persons of moderate mechanical skill, and when in use I avoid the embarrassment and liability to accident incident to steering-gears in which the motion is reversed.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The beveled-wheel segment, provided with slotted apertures and combined with a strap-bolt and nuts for fastening the same,

as set forth. p

2. The beveled segment having a central bolt-hole and nut-pocket adapted to be held to a rudder-post by a central bolt and nut, as set forth. Y

DAVID SCATTERGOOD.

Witnesses:

JOHN B. DEVINE, JOHN D. EBY. 

